Microdermatome



Feb. 5, 1963 c. P. MEE'K ETAL MICRODERMATOME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1958 INVENTORS Uz'azro Pa-ler 1424c BY 51}? flan W A TTOENE Y5 c. P. MEEK ETAL MICRODERMATOME Feb. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1958 INVENTORS Cicero Pmkr Mela BY SEW all? MW United States Patent ice Patented Feb. 5, 1963 3,076,462 MICRODERMATOME Cicero Parker Meek, 105 Jackson Drive, and S. P. Wall, In, Brunswick Lane, both of Aiken, S.C. Filed Sept. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 761,236 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-305) This invention relates generally to apparatus for preparing a skin section for grafting onto a donee area, and more particularly to an improved device for performing the operation described and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 631,712 filed December 31, 1956, relating to a method and means for cutting split thickness skin grafts into minute segments prior to application on a donee area.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a microdermatome which is simple in construction and eficient and dependable in operation.

Another object is to provide a microdermatome which is economical to manufacture, not subject to breakage and wear, and readily repairable if required.

A more specific object is to provide a microdermatome including a cover member for positively holding the split width skin section in position during the cutting operation and one wherein the skin section may be readily rotfated between cutting operations.

Dther objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

7 FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a microdermatome constructed in accordance with the present invention;

- FIG. 2 is an end elevation as viewed from the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

.- FIG. 4 is fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1, the cover member thereof being illustrated in open position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to indicate generally the microdermatome, which includes a base member 3 having a mounting block 5 centrally positioned on the upper surface thereof and secured by a plurality of bolts 7 or the like. The mounting block 5 includes a bottom flange 9 at each of the opposite ends thereof and the bolts 7 extend through apertures 11 in each of said flanges and into aligned threaded holes 13 in the base member 3.

A relatively wide vertical slot 15 is formed in one end of the mounting block 5 above the respective flange 9, slot 15 opening at its upper end through the upper surface of mounting block 5. Aligned threaded apertures 17 and 19 extend inwardly from either side of the mounting block 5, communicating with slot 15 approximately midway of the height thereof. Set screws 21 and 23 are received in the threaded apertures 17 and 19 and include reduced journalling pins 25 and 27 at their respective inner ends which project into slot 15. A cylindrically shaped trunnion 29 is rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis within the slot 15 and includes axial openings 31 and 33 at the opposite ends thereof for the reception of pins 25 and 27, respectively. A centrally positioned threaded aperture 35 is formed in the cylindrical member 29 transverse to its axis of rotation and is adapted to receive a bolt 37 with an enlarged head 39, for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

A cover member 41 is positioned over the mounting block 5 and secured thereto by a hinge 43 at the opposite end thereof from slot 15. Cover member 41 includes side walls 45 and end walls 47 defining an enlarged central opening 49. A plurality of longitudinal rib members 51, lying in spaced parallel vertical planes, extend between end walls 47 to define the top of cover member 41. The cover member 41 may be formed from a single block by milling out the central opening 49 between side walls 45 and end walls 47. Longitudinal slots are then cut in the top of the block to form ribs 51. These cuts are made somewhat deeper than the lower surface of the top. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, portions of the end walls 47 are cut away as at 52 to provide lateral access to the area immediately below ribs 51.

A laterally extending flange 53 is formed at the opposite end of the cover member 15 from hinge 43 and is provided with a slot 55 aligned with slot 15. Thus, to lock the cover member 41 in closed position, the bolt 37 is pivoted into slot 55 and tightened until bolt head 39 bears against the top of flange 53. The outer end of flange 53 may be rounded as shown at 57 in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 to provide clearance for the bolt head 39 when it is being pivoted into and out of position.

A pair of leveling set screws 58 may be positioned in the upper surface of block 5 on either side of slot v15. Flange 53 of cover member 15 bears against the tops of screws 53 and proper adjustment of the screws serves to keep the cover member in correct level position.

Section 59 is integrally formed on the upper surface of mounting block 5 and projects upwardly therefrom into close-fitting relation within the opening 49, terminating in a flat upper supporting surface 61 which lies in closely spaced relation below the lower edges of ribs 51. A thin readily penetratable supporting sheet member 63, formed of cork or the like, is centrally positioned on surface 61, and a split width skin graft section 65 positioned on sheet 63 is tightly clamped into position by the ribs 51. i

A cutter blade frame 67 comprises a top; member 69, secured as bybolts 71 to a pair of sides or leg members 73 which depend from the opposite side edges thereof. The side members 73 have reduced guide portions-75 along the respective bottom edges thereof, which are "adapted to be received within parallel guide channels 77 formed on the upper surface of base member 3 adjacent its opposedslide edges. A handle 79 is secured to the top 69 as by screws 81, for lifting the cutter blade frame 67 or for moving it longitudinally along the path of guide channels 77.

Opposed bearings 83 and 85 are mounted insides 73 and a shaft 87 is journalled therein. The shaft 87 has a blade-mounting sleeve or member 93 centrally positioned thereon. A collar 89 is fixed on one end of sleeve 93 by a set screw 91, which may extend through the sleeve and locks the sleeve onto shaft 87. The other end of sleeve 93 is threaded and a nut 95 is mounted thereon. A plurality of rotary cutting blades 97 are clamped on the sleeve 93 between nut 95 and collar 89 and may be spaced therefrom by tubular sleeves such as shown at 101, respectively. Blades 97 are maintained in positively spaced relation with respect to one another by a plurality of spacers 103 positioned therebetween. The spacing of blades 97 can be varied as desired but conforms with the spacing between longitudinal ribs 51. Normally the blades 97 are approximately one-sixteenth of an inch apart and their edges extend downwardly between longitudinal ribs 51 a sufiicient distance to cut through skin section 65 and into supporting sheet 63. 1

A connector is threaded into the side member 73 of a flexible driving connection 107 which is connected to the shaft 87 to effect rotation thereof. The mounting shaft 87, connector 105, and drive connection 107 are more fully described in our aforesaid copending application Serial No. 631,712, filed December 31, 1956, and it need only be said here that the drive furnished through connection 107 serves to rotate the blades 97 at speeds in the neighborhood of 1700-5000 r.p.m.

A pair of L-shaped guard members 109 are secured to the undersurface of top 69 as by screws 111, extending downwardly therefrom on either side of shaft 87 to a point spaced above the top level of ribs 51.

In operation a section of a split width skin graft is positioned on the supporting sheet 63. The cover member 41 is then closed and locked by pivoting the bolt 37 into position and tightening it. Next, the cutter blade frame 67 is placed in the position shown in FIG. 1 and moved in the direction of the arrow 113 along the path of guide channels 77. As the cutter blade frame 67 passes across mounting block 5, the rotating blade 97 extends through ribs 51 and cuts the central area of the skin section 65 into longitudinal strips. Afterward, the cutter blade frame 67 is lifted away from base 3, the cover member 41 is opened, and supporting sheet 63 and skin section 65 are turned on a vertical axis through an angle of 90". Cover member 41 is then clamped down again and the cutter blade frame 67 replaced in guide channels 77. After the cutter blade frame 67 is again moved in the direction of the arrow 113, the central area of the skin section 65 has been formed into a plurality of minute particles generally cubical in configuration. The resultant particles may then be removed and put into suspension in a suitable solution preparatory to application on a donee area.

It will be understood that numerous modifications may be made in thte specific example described here without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the annexed claims. It is particularly noted that the size and spacing of the cutter blades may be varied in accordance with the result desired, and that other changes may be made to adapt the device for uses on material other than split width skin sections.

We claim:

1. A cutting device, comprising: a base having parallel longitudinal grooves on the opposite sides thereof; a mounting block secured on said base between said grooves, said mounting block having an upper portion thereof presenting a flat horizontal supporting surface; a supporting member rotatably positioned on said supporting surface and formed of a readily severable material, said supporting member being adapted to receive thereon material to be cut; a cover member positioned on said mounting block and having a recessed portion in its undersu rface for the telescoping reception of saidupper portion of said mounting block, the top of said cover member being slotted and overlying said supporting member, said cover member being hingedly connected at one end thereof to said mountting block; pivotally connected screw means extending from said mounting block and through a slot at the other end of said cover member, said screw means being adapted to tighten said cover member against said supporting member and clamp therebetween said material to be cut; a cutter blade frame having legs depending therefrom and received for sliding movement in said grooves; rotary blades mounted on said cutter blade frame and each extending through one of said slots and through said material into penetrating contact with said supporting member; and means for rotating said blades independently of the movement of said cutter blade frame.

2. A microdermatome cutting device for severing splitwidth skin sections to form minute particles, comprising: a mounting block having a fiat supporting surface; a supporting member having a smooth upper surface overlying said supporting surface for supporting a split-width skin section, said supporting member being rotatable on said mounting block about a central vertical axis and being formed of a material which can be readily penetrated; a cover member overlying said supporting member and adapted to clamp material therebetween, said cover member having closely spaced longitudinal slots formed V therein; a cutting means mounted independently of said cover member above said mounting block for movement in the direction of said longitudinal slots, said cutting means being of sufficient depth to extend through said slots and entirely through said material and to enter into penetrating contact with said supporting member.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said cover member is hingedly connected to said mounting block.

4. The device of claim 3 including means for locking said cover member in clamping position independently of said cutting means.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the upper portion of said block includes upstanding side walls and end' -walls and said cover member includes side walls and end walls surrounding the upper portion of said block and lying closely adjacent the outer surface thereof the distance between said walls of said block and said walls of said cover member being slightly less than the thickness of said material whereby material placed on said block and extending over the side edges thereof is held between said walls of said block and said walls of said cover member.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said fiat sheet is formed of cork.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,646,711 Spang Oct. 25, 1927 1,736,138 Spang Nov. 19, 1929 2,174,603 Settel Oct. 3, 1939 2,223,466 Spang Dec. 3, 1940 

2. A MICRODERMATOME CUTTING DEVICE FOR SEVERING SPLITWIDTH SKIN SECTIONS TO FORM MINUTE PARTICLES, COMPRISING: A MOUNTING BLOCK HAVING A FLAT SUPPORTING SURFACE; A SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING A SMOOTH UPPER SURFACE OVERLYING SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE FOR SUPPORTING A SPLIT-WIDTH SKIN SECTION, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER BEING ROTATABLE ON SAID MOUNTING BLOCK ABOUT A CENTRAL VERTICAL AXIS AND BEING FORMED OF A MATERIAL WHICH CAN BE READILY PENETRATED; A COVER MEMBER OVERLYING SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO CLAMP MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN, SAID COVER MEMBER HAVING CLOSELY SPACED LONGITUDINAL SLOTS FORMED THEREIN; A CUTTING MEANS MOUNTED INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID 